GOP Debate Stays Cordial

New front-runner Huckabee remains quiet, positive
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 12, 2007 4:45 PM CST
GOP Debate Stays Cordial
Republican presidential hopeful former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney talks with fellow presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee following the Des Moines Register Republican Presidential Debate, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)   (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopefuls held their final debate before Iowa’s Jan. 3 caucuses today in Des Moines, focusing on taxes and using only a few sharp words. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, suddenly the front-runner in state polls, remained largely in the background, MSNBC reports, avoiding controversy and urging candidates “to quit fighting amongst ourselves.”

Huckabee’s support of a “fair tax”—a 23% sales tax that would end the IRS—had been seen as outside the mainstream, but all played it safe on the issue; Rudy Giuliani even suggested the program “would be a good idea.” A couple of sparks flew as former TV star Fred Thompson told Mitt Romney he was “getting to be a pretty good actor” himself. (More Iowa caucuses stories.)

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